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Louisiana is located in the Southern region of the United States. It contains 43,566 square miles
(112,835 square kilometers or 11,283,542 hectares) of land, and 8,277 square miles (21,437 square kilometers or 2,143,733 hectares) are covered by water. The state’s total area of
51,843 square miles (134,272 square kilometers or 13,427,275 hectares) makes it the 31st largest among
the United States. The Pelican State is bordered to the north by Arkansas, by the Gulf of Mexico to
the south, to the east by Mississippi, and to the west by Texas.
Louisiana is divided geographically into three land areas: the low country areas such as the East
Gulf Coastal Plain and the West Gulf Coastal Plain, and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, which extends
along the Mississippi River north of Lake Pontchartrain. Barrier beaches can be found along the gulf
coast itself, and marshes extend from the beaches inland for many miles. North of these marshlands
are swaths of rolling prairie and pine hills. The coast is famous for its bayous, which are
slow-moving streams; these include the Teche, Macon, and Lafourche Bayous, among many others.
Louisiana’s highest point, at 535 feet (163 meters) above sea level, is Driskill Mountain. Important rivers include the Mississippi, Ouachita,
Atchafalaya, Red, Calcasieu, and Sabine Rivers. Another interesting feature in Louisiana is the
presence of oxbow lakes, created from rivers changing direction. Major lakes include Lake
Pontchartrain, Calcasieu Lake, Catahoula Lake, Grand Lake, Lake Maurepas, White Lake, and Toledo Bend
Reservoir.
The climate of Louisiana can be described as semitropical, with significant humidity and rainfall, most
of which occurs near the Gulf of Mexico. Other climate influences include latitude and prevailing
winds from the south or southeast. The Pelican State experiences mild winters and hot summers. July
temperatures in New Orleans average around 82 degrees F (27.7 degrees C), whereas January temperatures
average around 52 degrees F (11.1degrees C). The average annual rainfall amount is 64.2 inches (163
centimeters). Northern Louisiana occasionally receives snow, but southern regions rarely receive any.
Tropical storms and hurricanes threaten the state during summer and fall, particularly along the Gulf
Coast. Such storms can cause severe flooding and significant structural damage, as witnessed in
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita most recently. Despite this occasional threat, Louisiana’s warm climate
remains a major draw to the state.
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